In recent op-eds published in prominent African outlets and in an interview with the BBC, Amujae Leader Malado Kaba called for the full political and economic inclusion of women in Guinea’s national transition following the coup on 5 September. 

Writing in Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, Ms. Kaba urged the transitional council to “implement fundamental reforms that will integrate and empower women” to ensure a brighter future for the country.  

Drawing on academic research, Ms. Kaba emphasized that women’s empowerment is key to Guinea’s success as a nation both politically and economically:

“New research shows that societies that oppress women (unequal property rights, early marriage practices, preferring sons, and allowing violence against women to occur) are more prone to violence and instability. Empowering women also has economic benefits. According to a World Bank projection, reducing gender inequality in Guinea could lead to per capita GDP growth of more than 10% by 2035.”

Ms. Kaba outlined three important measures to support women’s empowerment and financial inclusion. She called on the private and public sectors to develop and implement gender-aware policies; for more women to take up leadership positions in government and the private sector; and for improved collection and analysis of data on issues that affect women.

“As of December 2020, barely a third of the indicators needed to track Guinea’s performance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals from a gender perspective were available… We need to better understand how current policies affect women.”

While Ms. Kaba—who was Guinea’s first woman Minister of Finance and Economy from 2016-2018—admitted that driving governmental change in Guinea can be “extremely challenging,” she urged Guineans to: 

“take advantage of this delicate transition period to lay a solid foundation for women’s economic, social, and political participation as full citizens. Our country and economy depend on it.”

Ms. Kaba was also recently interviewed on BBC Newsday to discuss Guinea’s political transition. During the live interview, she noted: 

“When there are political, economic, and social crises, women and children bear the brunt… That’s why we need women at the table of discussions and making decisions.”

You can read the full article in Jeune Afrique here (in French) and in The Africa Report here (in English). Hear her interview on BBC Newsday here (Ms. Kaba’s interview begins at 38:55).